Russia excludes dietary milk, some vegetables from blacklist

The Russian government has amended its list of banned agricultural products, by removing lactose-free milk and dairy products, young salmon and trout, as well as some vegetables and nutritional supplements from the list of restricted imports.

Seed potatoes, onions, and hybrid sweet corn can now be imported
from Western countries after falling under Russia’s food ban in
early August.

The exceptions to the list also include dietary supplements that
come from plants and vegetables like vitamins, protein powders,
and others.

The government decree
was signed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday.

On August 7 Medvedev
instigated the ban on imported beef, pork,
poultry, fish, cheese, milk, and fruit vegetables from Australia,
Canada, the EU, the US and Norway.

Earlier this week a
group of Russians filed a petition to the PM urging products
needed for “special dietary purposes,” such as lactose
or gluten free, be excluded from the blacklist.

The group said gluten-
and lactose-free products made by Valio, as well as meat products
and grocery of other European producers with special markings
“didn’t have alternatives manufactured in Russia, and was the
only lactose-free and gluten –free nutrition for children and
adults diagnosed with coeliacia.”

Norway will welcome a reversal on the decision to ban seafood.
Russia is the country’s largest seafood export market. In 2013
Norway’s seafood exports were $1.04 billion, about 10 percent of
which went to Russia.

Aside from vital dietary and health supplements, Russia says it
is ready to try and replace foreign goods with domestically
produced items.

The bans on food provide a unique opportunity for Russia to
develop its own facilities and production centers, instead of
relying on imports.